The Souvenir

By Louise Steinman,

Book cover of The Souvenir: A Daughter Discovers Her Father's War

Book description

A soldier’s daughter unravels the secrets of her father’s experience in the Pacific Theater in this “graceful, understated” World War II memoir for fans of The Things They Carried (The New York Times Book Review)
 
Louise Steinman’s American childhood in the fifties was bound by one unequivocal condition: “Never mention…

Shepherd is reader supported. When you buy books, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Why read it?

1 author picked The Souvenir as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?

After Steinman’s parents passed away, she found a trove of WWII-era letters her father wrote along with a silk flag inscribed to a man named Yoshio Shimizu. In this book, Steinman recounted her years-long quest to learn who Shimizu was, a search that resulted in a trip to Japan to return the precious artifact. At the same time, by reading her father’s letters, Steinman discovered a tender and expressive side of her father—a side that had been wiped away by trauma. Steinman’s book shines a light on the universal cost of war.

From Carolyn's list on WWII family searches.

Want books like The Souvenir?

Our community of 11,000+ authors has personally recommended 100 books like The Souvenir.

Browse books like The Souvenir

5 book lists we think you will like!

Interested in Japan, the Philippines, and the Pacific War in WW2?

Japan 511 books
The Philippines 47 books